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Getting After It
‘Getting After It' is not just a podcast – it's a journey of growth and self-improvement.
It's a weekly discussion where fun, wisdom, and innovation blends with practical strategies, and stories of personal triumph. Here, learning is a lifelong experience and I firmly believe that while knowledge can be taught, you have to apply and execute to see results.
Our guests vary widely in their careers, hobbies, and pursuits, ranging from entrepreneurs to creatives, adventurers, and beyond. These different perspectives provide listeners with an enlightening view of success and fulfillment from different walks of life.
The aim? To fuel your ambition, stimulate your curiosity, and provide actionable advice to help you to reach the goals you set for yourself.
Welcome to 'Getting After It' - the podcast that aims to help you on your journey of personal growth.
Getting After It
086: From Couch to Marathon: How Drew Transformed His Life Through Discipline and Consistency
This episode dives into the gritty transition from heavy lifting to running, with my brother Drew who made some serious life changes. Through raw stories and hard-won lessons, we explore the pivotal moments that forced a shift toward a healthier, more intentional life.
Accountability was the cornerstone. Each milestone, from shedding the first few pounds to the grind of marathon training, proved that real transformation is built on discipline, structure, and a relentless drive to improve.
Crossing the finish line was more than a physical victory for Drew; it was a testament to time and resilience. The struggles and triumphs along the way forged mental strength, proving that the hardest battles are the ones fought within.
This episode is a call to action: embrace the discomfort, set bold goals, and commit fully to becoming the best version of yourself.
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I hope today’s episode sparked something within you to pursue your dreams and unlock your true potential. If you found value in it, consider sharing it with someone who might need that same push.
This podcast is built for you—the dreamers and the doers. My goal is to provide a space where you can find inspiration, learn from others, and feel empowered to chase what matters most to you.
Your dreams are within your grasp. All you need is the commitment to Get After It.
yeah, it's going. Can you tell me about your toe? It was so disgusting, it was like pussy and swollen and I was limping two days big toe still ran little goggins in you can I go get you a chair? No, and then today the swelling is down, the pus is down, and so but, it's like I was able to pull the skin back a little bit to see like and it kind of looks like it is an ingrown. So I'm gonna go see my father-in-law. He might cut it, he might not.
Speaker 2:I don't know, very nice I don't know well.
Speaker 1:So what happened was I trimmed my toenail and it was one of those trims where you trim and then you pull and there's more skin stuff attached to it. So I pulled that out and then it healed.
Speaker 2:That always hurts when you're ripping.
Speaker 1:that it looked like there was still a piece of nail between the nail and the sidewall of my toe and so I peeled that and I ended up pulling that up and it was no joke like a sheet of skin it was just like dead skin and then I like pulled it off and like on the corner right here there was like a centimeter difference.
Speaker 2:That's foul.
Speaker 1:Here and here it was like in the center. It was like this that's painful. But now it looks like a normal toe.
Speaker 2:It just looks swollen. Welcome to running. That's painful, but now it looks like a normal toe. It just looks Welcome to running. That's a. I think I keep my phone close because that's what we do Right here. Like this close. Yeah, you probably want to do like a, not like that, yay, yay. Joe Rogan always says keep this bitch like Fist away. We should have done smelling salts before this. I don't know, I think before this. Oh, I don't know, I think it'd be cool. Are you crocheting? That's sick. Beautiful. Yeah, I like it. Well, let's do this. I'm in. This is, uh, the first video podcast, so look nice, because this is going on spotify and youtube, so I'm glad I dressed up for the occasion you are wearing dodgers yeah go doyers yeah season's over, so I can finally start wearing gear again.
Speaker 1:That's fair. Yeah, superstition, superstition.
Speaker 2:But what a time. We just got done with the marathon, like almost three weeks ago. That was insane. That's three weeks ago, pretty close. Yeah, it was on the 3rd and the 20th today. Wow, we finally got this done. Yeah, and now you're a grown man, free man. I'm a grown man in the sport of running. In the sport of running, you did it.
Speaker 2:But, um, no, I think it is awesome and like the whole point of talking about this story, I think, is because it's very relatable for other people. There was a time that I think you finally got to where you're like okay, I need to start making some changes, but it's hard for people to figure out where they need to start and like what to do, and so I think having you as like an example to talk about your story, where you came from and then how now like your life, is completely different. Um, I think it's amazing. Like it's a super cool story. Do you have anything to say before we jump in? No, I'm ready. I'm ready to go okay well let's, let's keep going on that.
Speaker 2:Um, I got some questions for you, okay, but what was the exact moment where you decided that you needed to make a change?
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, I feel like it was a long time coming, like I got home from my mission, I was like 220, and then I gained a ton more weight. You and I started lifting together and then I got in that delusion of like, eat big to get big, but the only thing that was really growing was my gut, yeah, um, and so like that had gone on for a while.
Speaker 1:You know, when we were working out, I feel like it was a little bit more like hybrid, like we would do chest day and then like we had one day where we would do like high intensity stuff that's true but then when it was just me, I like switched to only like heavy lifting and I would do like chest day twice a day, all that stuff, whatever it was fun, though we like strength saturday when we were maxing out in the garage we got it was a good time like pretty decent when it comes to lifting we're strong yeah but like I started getting like joint pain and you know, I also like I had this like delusion in my head that I was a big guy. Yeah, like that I was swole.
Speaker 2:Like I think that's just the thing that all men face yeah.
Speaker 1:But like I feel like I, you know, like I had like huge arms and, like you know, my thighs were huge, yeah, but then, like I don't know, I just looked in the mirror one day and like I just had a realization that it was a delusion in my head and that I was just fat. You know, like I was fat and I was strong.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But at the same time, like I wouldn't consider myself healthy, you know.
Speaker 2:I remember when we were doing like hell for the holidays, which next week baby hell, yeah, um, you would fight me on. Like I don't even want to run a mile, yeah, like, come on, we got to run a mile before I I remember we one we did, um, it was like right, I think it was the first one in my house.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, we uh ran just from my house down to the streetlight and back, which come to find out it's actually like a mile, yeah, but like that killed me. My lungs were on fire, but anyway, yeah, I just I had that like realization, um that it was a delusion, you know, and like I was telling myself one thing but reality was another thing. Um, and I saw people like like you, you know, like you're, you're healthy, you can do things for a long period. You can say no to food, and like I wasn't having, I didn't have those things, like I couldn't say no like someone bringing donuts, I'd be like hell yeah, let's go let's eat three.
Speaker 1:You know, or like our, my work brings in lunch once a week. They. I remember one week they brought in chick-fil-a and they ordered like 10 extra sandwiches and I ate four of them, that's impressive yeah, on top of the one that they bought for me.
Speaker 1:So I had five total sandwiches in one day and like it, just like it's not healthy, it's not sustainable, you know, and so like that was probably the biggest thing for me. I had to have that conversation of I'm not healthy. I have young kids Also. I talked briefly about this before. If Reese wants to go throw the ball or the girls want to go throw the ball, I want to go do that Makes sense any.
Speaker 2:Or the girls want to go throw the ball, like I want to go do that, you know right, so makes sense. Um, one thing I think I like I admire you about this part of your story is you came to the conclusion that you needed help. Yeah, and you were like I'm gonna ask someone else, and you asked me, which was super nice, yeah, but um, what were you feeling when you asked for help? Because I think that's something a lot of people struggle with is like they don't want to feel like they have to either depend on someone or become a burden to someone else. But they know, like you said, with me, at least you know I have discipline to say no to food, or like I can run for a long time and what would like. What was going through your head when you were like I need to ask someone anything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think. I mean, have we ever done that before? Have you ever been like my? Yeah, you have. I've asked you to keep me accountable to stuff, but then, like I would just ignore you, like it was never, like an official, like, hey, I want you to be my coach, I want you to be like this person who's like actually talking to me and keeping me accountable to stuff, and so, and you have strengths where I, like you know I have a weakness and the opposite for you is a strength.
Speaker 2:You know, does that make sense yeah, I mean the same goes for like I can say the same thing about you. Well, I don't know if that's true In many ways.
Speaker 1:But yeah, like I knew that you had strengths and I knew that, I mean, you're someone that I trust more than anyone, and so I was like I need like, if I'm going to continue, this is like post my first Team, tim, you know. Yeah, so this is like around maybe February or March. Yeah, Because, like Team Tim was. February 10th and then no, it was literally the week after Team Tim. I think so, yeah, I think you're right.
Speaker 1:But with Team Tim, I was just following some Pinterest running training program, and that was easy for me then. But I just knew if I wanted to continue it, I would need a purpose and I would need someone to be there for me, and so it was an easy decision for me. But I think the thing that made me stick to it was I approached you versus you approaching me, and we made it official too. In my head it had to be an official thing. We have our notes where we go through each week.
Speaker 1:We talk about how the week went, we talk about food, we talk about goals, um, and then we talk about training you know, and that, for me, like solidified it where, like it was, it was hard before but easy once we like got to that point, and I agree with that.
Speaker 2:I think one thing I always tell people who like ask me for help or just ask other people for help, is it has to come from you, like yeah, if I saw someone that I love and I was like, hey, you need to start working out, here's a program for you, but they didn't want to make the change themselves, it would never work. Yeah, and so you having that drive internally, I would say I wouldn't say. I say it rarely works, rarely works.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, because, like you've called me out on on stuff before, that's true, you know, but definitely like I feel like the desire 100 has to come from you for it to be long lasting yeah, and I think to your point like it was a pivotal moment where you're like I just ran team tim.
Speaker 2:I want to keep this momentum going. I know I need to make. I'd also lost 10 pounds Training for Team.
Speaker 1:Tim. Training for Team Tim. I think I trained, so I started November like the very end of November or like the first week of December, and then by February 10th I lost like 10 pounds and I was like that's crazy. I was like, oh, this actually works. It just takes time, Takes time and that gave me confidence, though also, you know, because it's like, okay, well, let's keep going so that's what it should do.
Speaker 2:It's like that's why I talk about celebrating the small wins along the way is you have to recognize progress where it is made, like the fact that you even ran a half marathon is awesome and then like that's the start and be like, okay, well, where can I keep going from there? Um, what was some of the hardest parts of getting started? Like developing a routine, starting to do more running workouts, because you know you had five plus years of experience of just strength training and and doing some light cardio when it came up.
Speaker 1:But, um, you had to shift a lot of your routine with food, nutrition, uh, working out and like balancing kids in a job yeah, um, I feel like, uh, I feel like it got hard after you and I decided, like for you to be my coach after that conversation. That's when it got hard, because when I was training for the first team tim, like all I, I just completely switched to. I didn't have a gym membership at the time and so I just completely switched to running only, and so that was easy. But then, once you and I started, it was like, hey, we're going to start introducing weightlifting on top of running. That's when it started to get hard. That's when I started to notice the most like fatigue physically.
Speaker 1:But I mean, I also have this kind of like psycho. I think all of us Rossels have this little psycho mentality where, like, when we decide we're going to do something, like there is nothing that's going to stop us from doing that, yeah. Like we're going to do something like there is nothing that's going to stop us from doing that, yeah, like we're stubborn, it's a, it's a blessing and a curse, um, because it, you know, can cause a lot of fights, but yeah, um, I think it was just like trying to balance, the like when my body was tired.
Speaker 1:It's like take a rest but also, like I would say, push myself, because there was days where I'm like I'm so exhausted I'm the most tired I've ever been, but it was like in those moments when I chose to get up and just go through and like hey, I have this training. I have to get it done today. Like it just got easier.
Speaker 2:I know, and the challenging part is that feeling never goes away. Yeah, like I'm exhausted, I want to stay in bed, but you know, on the other side of going and working out is like a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment and it's hard to think about that in the moment.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'd say, like when I'm like working out and training, you know, like I think about where I was before I started and before I lost all this weight, um, like I would feel tired, but it was a different kind of tired, like it was like a like sluggish. Like sluggish, like I felt disgusting, I didn't like myself. Sometimes, you know, yeah, um, but yeah, like it's, I'd rather be tired but still have energy than be just exhausted and sluggish. Yeah, and that's where I was, when I was just doing whatever I wanted and lifting being a lifter.
Speaker 1:But another lesson I did think of though like that was hard, I talked about it last time was when Emily called me out on being a punk when I got home.
Speaker 1:Like there was like a lot of lessons like that too, like because, like I had to learn that, yeah, you're tired, but you're also a dad, you also work a job, and so, like you know, there's been a lot of wake-up calls where it's like I might, you know, slack off on certain things, and then someone would slap me and be like oh yeah, you're right, I need to yeah, that is a good point.
Speaker 2:Like it's important to push yourself, it's important to be disciplined, but I actually I was thinking about this the other day it's like you can't neglect other areas of your life. Yeah, like if you want to be relentless and running, you also need to be relentless and being a husband and being a dad and being in your job. Like just because you are going extra hard in one area doesn't mean that you can slack off in others yeah and I think it's everyone talks about you gotta be well-rounded.
Speaker 1:Gotta be well-rounded.
Speaker 2:I don't think thing is balanced, but you have to be well-rounded, yeah exactly and like be patient with yourself along the journey because, yeah, when I was training for the ultra and I had moments where I was like doing 60 mile weeks and stuff, and on saturday I would just be so tired, but then you know, I didn't want to neglect my wife so I'd go and have time with her and, um, like try and and do the podcast and like do things that I know I needed to do even though I was tired. Yeah, um, and I don't know. That kind of leads me to another question like was there ever a moment where you were, you felt like there was a breakthrough, like you were like oh, I can do this, I am making progress. Like where you looked in the mirror like I'm changing? I feel like I had multiple um.
Speaker 1:You have one I can think of like two moments right off the bat. The first one was like during training for the oc half marathon, when I was trying to break oh yeah, two, two hours, um, I uh, I felt like, um, there was times within that training where, like I was having really good runs. Plus, like you were my cheerleader, allie was my cheerleader, emily was my cheerleader. You know, like you guys would be like holy crap, you ran a 9.30? And I'd be like whatever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was like that was one. Well, where'd you come from?
Speaker 1:Right, I came from like an 11, 12-minute pace Insane. But like there was like moments like that where I was like you know, I feel like I was celebrating and I was like feeling good about myself and and realizing that like I am a good runner, at least for like for myself. You know, like yeah, like I I'm a lot better than what I thought I was before I started running. But I think the the biggest one was marathon training and we were like I was scared to be running like back to back to back to back, like 15, 16, 17, but then, like I started doing it and like if you ask me to run 13 miles right now, I'd be like let's go freaking, run 13 miles.
Speaker 2:Like you know like it's just like that.
Speaker 1:It was those things. But like I, it took moments, moments of pushing myself when I wanted to quit where now it's not even a thought. 13 miles does not scare me 20 miles that scares me still a little bit.
Speaker 2:A little bit, and I think that's good.
Speaker 1:You should always have a little bit of fear.
Speaker 2:But that makes me think of the quote Alex Ramosi. It's one of my favorites. I talk about it all the time. But you don't gain confidence by shouting affirmations in the mirror. You gain confidence by building an undeniable stack of proof that you are who you say you are yeah and so the fact that you just said, hey, yeah, let's go run 13 miles, like whatever, that's fine.
Speaker 2:It's because you've done it so many times that you're like, okay, I can go do it. I know myself, yeah, um, but it's only after you've put in all the work and you've seen how sore your body gets, how tired you are. Um, sometimes tears if, if it's my experience, like I, I've cried after runs and my body hurts so bad. But I think it's a an admirable thing to to see that progress being made in yourself.
Speaker 1:I think it's healthy too to put yourself to that point. I was thinking about this post-marathon. I don't know if there's any questions about the marathon.
Speaker 2:I won't spoil anything yet about the marathon.
Speaker 1:But, like you know, there's points where it's like I knew I was pushing myself well beyond like where I ever thought I would be, and in those moments it's like and it sucks, like I remember, after the first two half marathons, like my knees were so locked up and like I was just tight and I was in pain, just wobbly, like literally wobbly, but like I had pushed myself through, like in the half marathon, the last, like what? Two miles, three miles? You were like Drew, get your freaking butt in gear.
Speaker 2:Let's go Like we have to go. I'm trying to push you.
Speaker 1:And I dying. But, um, like I think that that's healthy. I don't think it's like people don't do that like mentally or physically as much. Yeah, you know, like nowadays I feel like back then you didn't have a choice, but like now it's like I feel like it's such a healthy thing for people to push themselves like beyond where they think they could be, I know our homie david goggins.
Speaker 2:He says it's so easy to be great nowadays yeah, because so many people just are easy route.
Speaker 2:They're so average and that's not like I'm not trying to shoot anyone down, but like my experience has been, when I do something difficult, I get ridiculed for it because people are like I think and they see in themselves that they wouldn't be able to do that yet. Yeah, like I say, yet, because I think everyone has the opportunity to change. I was that way a little bit. You were like that. You hated me for it. No, I didn't hate you, but like I was a little jealous.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, like you're young, handsome and you were thin and shredded. I mean I should say shredded, so I was super thin you were super thin, but like you got to a point where you were, you know, I mean right now you're shredded. I wouldn't call you thin, you're shredded, um so back on the creatine I was a little jealous, you know, and like when you would be like, oh, I gotta run.
Speaker 2:I would get annoyed a little bit because it's like that's all you freaking care about it's a big part of my life but like now I get it. Yeah, you know, because I'm in it with you and you know the benefits of yeah, like you know I have this ingrown toenail.
Speaker 1:And emily was like drew, you're not supposed to run for two weeks after you get it done. Like, watch me like tape it up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, save it up, you'll be good. Yeah, um, but okay, so you brought up the marathon yeah I want to know what your experience was, everything leading up to it, so like what you were feeling the night before, just walk through the whole story.
Speaker 1:All right. Um, whatever you want to share, I'll start with my 20 miler. Okay, my 20 miler. I felt like I could freaking literally walk through a wall. I was so hyped like I felt so good, yeah, um so was that a breakthrough, you think?
Speaker 1:yeah for sure. Like that was like, oh, I got a marathon in the bag easily, like no, no questions asked, I knew I could freaking do it, um, and like I don't know what was different, because the week before I ran a 19-miler and I was like that sucked, like that was so hard. But I think I also had a breakthrough with like fueling on my runs and so I think that helped me with the 20-miler. But yeah, like going into the 20-miler, I was like, oh, I got this in the bag, like this is yeah, nothing. Um, and then, leading up to marathon, the the week of the marathon, uh, I think it was wednesday, also game five of the dodgers world series, so it was an important day for me, yeah shout out to the dodgers um, I uh went home from work and I had 104 fever and I was just feeling so sick and I ended up throwing up.
Speaker 1:I was worried. I was worried too, and if you were to ask me on Wednesday Drew, are you running the marathon? I would have said absolutely not. Yeah, like that's. That was my. That's where I thought I was, but I was. I didn't let myself say I'm not doing it because I had trained seven months. I'm not like, obviously, like, if you have 104 fever the night before like a race, don't freaking do it. But it was like Wednesday, so I was like I was holding out hope. The next day I still had a fever of like 103, 101, something like that, and then it finally broke that night. So what would that be? Friday?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Before the race, I started uh, eating. I was also having stomach issues, um, and so I went from not eating anything for two days to force feeding myself as much.
Speaker 2:I think that day for lunch I had, or I had a bagel for breakfast and I ate two subway sandwiches for for lunch that was the best, because I always talk about how car bloating is so hard. And then, when we were driving to California, you're like I cannot eat anymore.
Speaker 1:I did not want to eat.
Speaker 2:What was it like? Three cups of rice, Just plain rice For breakfast?
Speaker 1:yeah, I had 500 grams of white rice. Nothing in it. I was just trying to eat.
Speaker 2:And the best part was it lasted like four three hours in the car.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just sat there and you like me to take bites of it occasionally I don't think I've 100 finished it, but I got close. No, I only threw it away yeah, it was so good yeah, um, but like I don't know, like I was having stomach pain that night before like I was struggling. We also, after eating subway and all that rice and all the other snacks, we ended up going to that diner and ate freaking pancakes that were this thick.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was like the Cheesecake Factory of diners. Yeah, it was great. I'd go back it was good yeah. And then obviously, like that night, I just kind of wanted to go to bed like I was just not feeling good, like stomach wise, like I was just like having pain. I was like let's just go to sleep. So I felt like I fell asleep pretty quickly. I was a little nervous I wasn't able to sleep.
Speaker 1:I can never sleep the night before a race um, then we woke up and got on the bus and, like I don't know, I just felt kind of cool as a cucumber, yeah. And then we started running and I was cooking.
Speaker 2:It helped that the majority of the race was all downhill, um I don't think the majority was at least it's like getting yeah the first, I would say eight miles were pretty downhill yeah.
Speaker 1:So, like I was, I was cooking on those first eight miles, yeah, and then I hit mile 18. And mile 18 is when I started feeling nauseous. And then, by mile 20, I was run walking and so, like there was times where and I'm glad I didn't see any of you guys, because in my head I had told myself I was going to stop and talk to you guys, like when I saw you, um, but the last six miles I ran, walked, uh, I think I did like, okay, I can run a quarter mile and then I would walk for a little bit. And that was just because I was feeling nauseous and I, yeah, in postpartum, I was dehydrated, I didn't have enough electrolytes. I was only grabbing water at the water stations and then I had my electrolyte uh, boobies yeah and they're drained.
Speaker 1:No, I didn't. That was afterwards. I was like I had one that was halfway and the other one was like basically full. So I it was on me, I wasn't drinking my electrolytes yeah um food wise, I was like doing great, like I was eating um every three miles after I've been on for an hour.
Speaker 1:You know it's like I was, I was doing really good, um, and what I had practiced right, like in my 20 miler. So I was feeling like that side was fine, definitely dehydrated, but I was running a quarter mile and I'd walk for, like I don't know, maybe a tenth of a mile, something like that, and then run a quarter mile.
Speaker 2:That's crazy because we were going to see you, I think, at what was it like 18, mile 18, yeah. So we were gonna go like at mile 18 or 20 to see you, but we just barely missed you. So we saw on the tracker that you just ran right past us, and so you're saying, like you would have stopped and talked to us.
Speaker 1:Probably I wouldn't have let you stop, though I, I was, yeah, I mean, I was at that point too in my head where I was like I cannot like I'm literally right there. But yeah, like I had talked to myself when I was like if I see them and they're standing on a corner, I'm gonna go talk to them and like stop for a second.
Speaker 2:And so I think that's a huge thing. That people struggle with is like the internal battle, yeah, but what did you tell yourself to keep going?
Speaker 1:I just, I mean, after I started going, like after mile 20, I was just like one foot in front of the other. You know, it was just like literally like I'm gonna run and then walk as like much as I can and I'm going to finish this thing. I knew if I kept going, six miles would turn into four miles, and then it would turn into two miles and then it would turn into one by the time I got to mile 26,.
Speaker 1:The route of the marathon pissed me off because it was like like you would run and at like mile 24 or 23 I think it was, you could hear everyone cheering and like screaming and I was like, oh, I'm just around the corner.
Speaker 1:I got this and then it makes you turn right and you run down and you then it fades and I was just like gosh dang, like like I was so pissed because I was like I'm right there and then I couldn't hear any any cheering and then I finally turned the corner and started running towards the finish line and then, obviously, once I saw the finish line, I didn't stop running um so, but it was one of the coolest things to see it was.
Speaker 1:It was hard man like, but I learned a lot about myself in those last six miles than I ever did during training, because I wasn't going to let. How long did we train for that?
Speaker 2:I mean it was a little long, seven months yeah.
Speaker 1:It was way longer than most people train for a marathon, I mean that's the crazy thing, though.
Speaker 2:You just brush past that Seven months. Yeah, you don't like. You just brush past that seven months. Yeah, you didn't run at all Like. Last November is when you really started.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So it's been about a year since you started running.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And you trained for a marathon in seven months after like. Under a year of running.
Speaker 1:I had done two half marathons in a full yeah, what did you learn about? Yourself in the last six miles. Um that I don't have quit in me.
Speaker 1:It's a good thing to know yeah like I, I just I didn't want to do it, like I really wanted to quit, um. And the other thing is something happened. I think emily got the minivan and her spotify connected, which we share the same spotify account don't come after me, spotify um, but like the music cut out, so like the last four miles or longer I didn't have anything. It was just me and the race like, and so I just yeah, I mean I I kind of blacked out in parts. Yeah, um, like obviously, like I didn't break any records.
Speaker 1:I did a four hours and 35 minutes, which I'm proud of. My goal was 4 30 I got. I was five minutes past my goal. Uh, easily could have done four. If I wasn't nauseous and I was wasn't dehydrated, I really think I could have gotten four easily, um, but yeah, I mean like I honestly think it was kind of like meant to be that I wasn't supposed to have music and I didn't see you guys now that I'm thinking about, it right now, like, yeah, because I don't know, it was just.
Speaker 1:I think it was better for me that I didn't have anything distracting me, like in, like with music. Yeah, it was literally just just me and I couldn't stop to get my pack out because I wasn't going to stop right so there's this quote from cam hans.
Speaker 2:He says that, um, you can't light yourself when you're suffering. Yeah, and that's pretty hard, like what you were doing the last four miles without music. That's tough, yeah, and especially at the end of a race, like you're only alone with your thoughts and the sound of your feet hitting the pavement over and over again. You're like when is this going to stop? But you push through. And what was it like like when you finally ran up, you saw emily and reese and you were crossing the finish line. What was that like?
Speaker 1:talk about that experience well, when I saw you guys and I gave reese a high five, I was very happy, yeah. And then I crossed that finish line and in, like I was done, I was just so pissed, like I was actually mad at everything, um, and they like gave me the medal and I was I mean, I was happy, obviously because it was over and I trained so long for it. But yeah, like I crossed the finish line and I was just like, like I don't know, I was happy. And then when Emily came around the corner, I don't know, I just felt joy, like pure joy, because she's been cheering me on this whole time, and like she was so excited to see me afterwards and it just made me so happy. You know to know that like I have her in my corner always and reese didn't really, he was just excited I gave him.
Speaker 1:I had a. They gave me a popsicle and I gave him the popsicle that they gave me, and he was hyped on that, but it was. It still was super meaningful, though, to like see him like cheering for me. Yeah, um, as well, so, but that was good I was.
Speaker 2:After that point, though, I was just like get me in the freaking car I'm sleeping I'm going home like I did not want to do anything yeah, so well, my perspective from when you were running up to the finish line, it was probably one of the most like. It might sound weird, but like fulfilling things for me to see, because this whole podcast everything I talk about, about with getting after it and how it's a lifestyle you showed that anyone can get after what they want to and if it's achievable by a human, that means you can do it too. And the fact that what were you when you started training 245 pounds.
Speaker 1:I think it was 255 yeah, okay, my heaviest ever was 265 to, let's just say 255. It was 255, 255 all right.
Speaker 2:Um, you started there, you didn't let that stop you. You're like hey, I know I can get to that point. It's just going to take a lot of work. Like you exemplified what it means to get after it, and I think that's like as someone who has a podcast that's just about that and was your coach through the whole process and tries to live those principles like it was the coolest thing to see and I don't know, I mean I have to call you out on something too.
Speaker 1:Uh-oh, after the race, you had said to me like I hope you still let me coach you, and my first thought was what the hell? Like? What is changing? I just finished a marathon. Like there's nothing, like it's not done, like what do you mean?
Speaker 2:I was like what is this bull crap? That's the thing. It's like I don't know. I mean, what is this bull crap? That's the thing. It's like I don't know. I mean, some people just want to see it through and, you know, hit a marathon goal or whatever, but that's what I'm trying to get with, like, getting after it's a lifestyle and you always want to find what the next.
Speaker 1:That's that's why I was shocked when you asked me that question. I said that well, like what are you freaking someone else?
Speaker 2:who ran the race told me they're done running.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, that's okay, you know who you are. Yeah, stupid.
Speaker 1:He's going to run again, I guarantee it. Yeah, he will, yeah, he'll be fine.
Speaker 2:But I think that's a good place to shift and talk about how others can do it. I think a big excuse that a lot of people make is like I don't have time or like I'm too far gone, I can't be saved, like whatever the story that they tell themselves is.
Speaker 1:What would you say to someone who has doubts like that there's always time, like there's. What are you doing at 4 am? Yeah, you know. Like go to bed earlier. If you can't go to bed earlier, like it doesn't even have to be 4 am, like you don't have to be like David Goggins and wake up Like Emily and I. She was running I think she was training for her marathon, the OC, and I was training for the half, and we just made an agreement that my time to train was early morning and her time to train, like she either would go to the gym like around 10 or she would go when I got home from work. Like that was our, our agreement that we had um come up with Um and and that's what we stuck to. Obviously, there's days where it doesn't work out, but yeah, just pick a time.
Speaker 1:You got an hour here or there. If you pick a time and you know, hey, this time I'm supposed to be doing this, it makes it a lot easier to stick to it.
Speaker 2:If it matters to you, you'll make time. Yeah, I love that, yeah it. If it matters to you, you'll make time, yeah, I love that. Um, another big thing that, like I think about a lot of people struggle with when they they have these goals that they want to start, is they feel overwhelmed. And I think you it's fair to say you felt the same way yeah and so what's like? What would you suggest for people who feel that way? How would they start making progress, or whatever that looks like?
Speaker 1:Chip away. It starts with just doing it. You have to commit to it. It was easy for me. I feel like I'm a pretty. I don't want to call myself a rule follower because I'm not a square. Yeah, I don't want to call myself a rule follower because I'm not a square. You know, yeah, um, but uh, well, like, when I have like a task or like a list or like something like that, I like follow it to a T. Yeah, like it's, that's easy for me.
Speaker 1:Um, and so like, when I would see a big week where, like, I would be running 40 miles in a week or 30 miles in a week, whatever it it was, whatever felt like big to me at the time, I would just start with the first one and then go to the second one. You know, like, each day, like whatever it was, like I would try and focus on what I had to do that day. Or like, if I had a big run, like a 20, like my 20 miler or 19 miler or whatever, um, I would just try and like, focus on that, like and like. Once I started, it was so much easier to keep going like, yeah, there was times where, you know, I would wake up and not want to run. It'd take me an hour to get out the door but, um, as soon as I started, it was like the feeling of being overwhelmed, or feeling like it was too much, or like I needed a rest. Whatever, it always went away yeah, I think that's true.
Speaker 2:I would say the biggest thing that like has helped me throughout running and and accomplishing the goals that I want to, is like staying present. Yeah, like obviously you want to know where you want to go, you have to have direction, but if you're in the moment, like if you're focused on what you can do right now, like you were saying like in the, your mile 20 in the race it's like okay, I can just do one foot in front of the other and I'll just keep going. Yeah, just keep it keep it in drive I had a.
Speaker 1:I had a guy um, when I was uh a youth a youth, a young man a young man oh, it was a bishop, uh, of mine he. He said, uh, if you're not in drive, like, or if you're neutral, you're still going backwards. So like, as long as you're in drive, like, you're going going the right way, even if it's just one mile an hour, even if it's one mile an hour.
Speaker 2:Just keep it in drive, yeah, and stay consistent. Yeah, um, what was your process for being consistent? Even when you didn't want to show up routine removing barriers, it's true, you would text me and be like or call me and be like hey, yeah, I'm gonna set out my lunch stretch and then go to bed yeah, it's like you had your certain things I had my routine.
Speaker 1:I'll tell you right now it's here. I get home from work.
Speaker 2:We do kids wait, let's do the waking up, part first.
Speaker 1:Okay, fine you didn't wake up, fine, fine. Well, the going to bed part is probably the biggest part of my routine.
Speaker 2:All right, that's fair, because it's what sets me up for the morning. Okay, let's start backwards then.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, we're starting backwards. So I come home from work, hang out with the kids, are in bed, I instantly go into packing my lunch, packing my bag, putting out my stuff for my workout the next day, whether that's pre-workout, like, prepping protein, like whatever is putting my workout clothes out, like I. I literally lay it out every day yeah, um, fill up my water jug, um, and then after that is like I do whatever I want. I'll play video games, hang out with Emily, but doing that little thing at night is what makes it. So when my alarm goes off, I can't find a reason to not go. If I don't go, it's because I chose not to go. It primes you, not because of like, oh, yeah, I woke up. Obviously there's stuff that happens. How many times?
Speaker 2:have I called you and been? Uh, I haven't pooped my pants. Yeah, I've had toilet issues. This morning.
Speaker 1:You know, I've been on the toilet for an hour you know like but but like that way, I don't know, for me that just works with with the way I think, because, um, I don't know, I'm a driven person, person and so if I make that decision to not do it, I feel guilty, I feel like I'm cheating myself. But it was a lot easier when I wouldn't do those things and then be like, yeah, I didn't put my stuff out and I could blame it on that. But now the blame always rests on me.
Speaker 2:I look at discipline as one of the highest forms of self-care you can do for yourself, because if you're not putting your, if you're not like moving your body, eating well, like it's going to do damage to you long term, yeah, and so being disciplined and like having a routine like that that just gets your mind in the right place, removes those barriers, like you're saying, is huge and anyone who's like starting to try to make some changes, like change your routine a little bit. James clear talks about how, um, if you want to change your habits, you need to change your environment, and you're changing your environment by like setting your clothes out, getting your food ready, like putting the steps in place so you don't have to think about anything. It becomes a system at that point. Yeah, um, and it works. And it works. Yeah, look at you, you lost 47 pounds, it's crazy 209 right now.
Speaker 2:That's what I'm talking about. Baby, give me some um. But I think another challenge that people run into is the quick fix. They want it like fast. Yeah, they don't know how to balance patience with their goals. How did you do?
Speaker 1:that I feel like it finally clicked for me, like I, like I had mentioned with, uh like post first team tim. Keep saying first team tim. It's the only team tim I ever am.
Speaker 1:Um, not the, not the last, though that's for sure, but um but yeah, I think it finally clicked then because I mean, I've tried to lose weight plenty of times but it had never really stuck, like I might lose five pounds here or there, but then I'd gain it back or gain more back. But it finally clicked, like in prepping for that, because I did notice like, oh, if I eat pizza the night before I run? Again, I was asking you questions during that notice, like, oh, if I eat pizza the night before I run, like I was asking you questions during that Like, hey, should I do this, hey, should I do that? But that's when it finally clicked because I'd lost 10 pounds, I felt better and you know, I was starting to watch what I ate because, like, I wasn't a runner, yeah, but I was training for a race.
Speaker 2:I didn't want to be, you know, left behind or I didn't want to like throw up and feel sick. You know you can't fuel a ferrari with regular unleaded gas. You got to add the premium stuff.
Speaker 1:Exactly there you go, yeah, so like that. That like, I think, is when it first clicked for me was just, you know, a it takes time because I lost 10 pounds over three months. Um, or maybe it's 15. It might have been 15, I don months, or maybe it was 15. It might have been 15. I don't know. Either way, it was like fast. It was significant for me, enough to the point where I had realized that it was through watching what I ate and obviously like running and cardio and stuff like that. So that's when it like clicked and I felt like I had mastery over it in marathon training. That's when I mastered it where it's like now, if someone offers me something that I'm not going to eat, I'm like no, thank you, instantly no. Even during, like when I was training for the OC, I'd still go to gas stations and I'd be like oh, I freaking want some hot nuts.
Speaker 2:Give me that Takis, give me those Takis, hot nuts.
Speaker 1:I remember, literally, I went and I grabbed. I went grab the tongs at qt and I went to grab the triple cheese yeah, keto or whatever it's called and I had like I like put the thing down. I was like I'm not even hungry, what am I doing right now? I remember you calling me. Literally I called you and told you that and like like now, it's like not even a a thought.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like I indulge, don't get me wrong yeah but like it's important to, but like on a regular day when I'm not indulging. It's so much easier for me just be like no, I'm okay, thank you yeah, it's easier not to eat it than it is to work it off.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so um a few more questions, okay. How has this journey influenced other areas outside of your life besides fitness?
Speaker 1:I feel like it's just toughened up my mind, like that story with Emily calling me out. I think before I would have been like PO'd or like hold a grudge, maybe I don't know. I love Emily Like she can never make me mad. Actually, now that I think about it like she's the best person shout out to our wives yeah like, literally, wives are the best.
Speaker 1:but, um, I don't know, like I feel. Um, I feel like it just like emily called me out on that that you know thing with reese, and like, instead of me going the other direction, being stubborn and being an a-hole about it, like like I just I went the other way and I realized it was an area I needed to improve on and like it was an easy shift from that versus like I feel like before it would have taken me a while. There was like the next day I was coming home, I was happy and like I still try to be happy as best I can for the children.
Speaker 2:For the children.
Speaker 1:You do a good job. But yeah, like I don't know, like, um, yeah, I, I feel like that's probably like the biggest thing is that. And the other thing I've I've noticed the most since this isn't like with running or anything, but just losing weight. Like I used to be sluggish every single day at 3 pm, Like I would just be like after lunch, after I ate food. I would just be like I would look at my computer and just be like I'm ready for a nap, yeah.
Speaker 1:But like now, like I'm good all the way through and I feel like my brain is sharper, like there's something about like when you're living that lifestyle, just eat whatever you want, eat fatty foods all the time. Like there is a definite, noticeable difference in cognitive, like behavior like yeah, I agree I notice it like I remember things more, um, but yeah, I, I like that's probably like the two biggest things is like the mindset like just, and then obviously, like I'm awake, I have energy, like I feel good about myself. I was also.
Speaker 1:This is kind of off topic, so this is good, but but like someone asked me literally today because I was bragging about my toe and how I'm gonna run, even even if I'm not supposed to run, because I like to do that. I'm not a doctor, yeah. But like someone asked me, like why do you like running? You think it like helps, you know, like your mental, I was like 100% helps me, like clear out, like I don't want to say bad energy because I'm not an avocado toast eating person.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't believe in astrology.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but like it definitely helps me clear my mind and like get my mood right. But they asked me like why I like running and you know, I don't know, I just kind of lost my train of thought actually.
Speaker 2:It's okay, I can pick up because I like what you're saying. Yeah, humans need discomfort and they need things to push them, because it just is like we deal with so much stuff in our daily lives that it like wrings you out in a sense, yeah, and you can't be thinking about. I mean, you can, but it's hard to think about your problems at work or at home when you're mile 10 in your long run. It's hard to think about that kind of stuff and if you are thinking about it you're in a different head space, you're doing something difficult with your body, so you're not as agitated or angry when you're thinking about it.
Speaker 1:You gave me my train of thought back All right hit it. Well, I like the pain of it. I actually like the pain of it, like I actually like the pain, um, mainly because I mean I know there's a lot of runners out there but, like majority of the people in america, are not doing what we're doing you know, one percent of the world has run a marathon and that, like right there, gives me kind of like, uh, I don't know, it just gives me like energy.
Speaker 1:It gives me confidence. Knowing that a I don't know, it just gives me like energy, gives me confidence knowing that like I'm out here running on a saturday, like I'm running 10 miles, and how many people are doing that in my area there's a lot of runners, but there's way more couch potatoes.
Speaker 2:yeah and yeah, I, I anyway, don't agree with that lifestyle. Yeah, one final thing before we wrap up. If someone's listening today and they decide like today's the day I'm going to start my own transformation, what's?
Speaker 1:one piece of advice. You'd tell that person to either take the first step or just to start. I would say baptize by fire, like whatever it is that that person's gonna do. Like jump in, like don't dip your toe in, like, because if you dip your toe in you could always pull your toe back out, but if you jump in you're freaking wet, you're in there you know, like that.
Speaker 1:That, I think, is what like helped me, is like I jumped in, like I went from no running I hate running to okay, I'm training for a half marathon because I want to support my sister-in-law and her family. I want to honor Tim's memory. That was the big motivator. Obviously, I wanted to get closer to my wife because she was doing it too. That was the thing. I was like, the thing that like I just like I'm jumping in. So I jumped in and then from then it was a lot easier to to just keep going. Yeah, so like what, whatever aspect of life it is, like just go for it rather than dip your toe in and and and you know kind of mess around.
Speaker 1:I think I think it's a lot easier once you're in it and realize it's not as scary as it actually is.
Speaker 2:I love that. Um one caveat, I would say, or add on to that is like jump, like go all in, but start where it pushes you yeah, so like if you have never run. Like, try and run half a mile. If you can do more than that, obviously go more.
Speaker 1:But like yeah, just commit to it and then I love what you said I would say, like because you don't want to overexert yourself and then get burnt out and then lose your drive. Yeah you know. But but like for me, um, with running, having team tim, like, and having three months to train for it, like that was a good like, uh, warm-up right but.
Speaker 1:I still jumped in because I was like, hey, I've got this race and I'm doing it, like that was my jump in. But yeah, I think like obviously, start small. But like I would say, you need to have some sort of goal that you're working towards so that you can stay focused, and then, once you reach that goal, it's easier just to keep setting more goals.
Speaker 2:Keep going, yeah. That leads to the final question. You've conquered this mountain. Now what's?
Speaker 1:next Sub four-hour marathon, all right.
Speaker 2:And then an ultra, then an ultra, and then eventually I want to do an Ironman, full one or half.
Speaker 1:You got to go full, well, we'll go full, but you probably got to start at half because that's a lot of freaking cardio.
Speaker 2:That's fair. So that's like seven hours.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But I love it Well, Drew, thanks for coming on. Thanks for sharing your story and being literally someone who embodies getting after it and pushing themselves and proving to others that it's possible, because I think I talk about it all the time, but my lifestyle is very, I would say, routine, to the point to where people look at me and they're like oh yeah, that's easier for you to say yeah but the fact that you were just on that other side a year ago is crazy.
Speaker 2:To see that progress and like it's a good example for everyone, I'm excited to see where I'm at in a year. I'm excited too Way before You'll be below sub four. Oh yeah, for sure I can guarantee it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the goal is get to an eight-minute pace in six months. That's the micro goal. Yeah, the big goal is a sub four Speed season. Get to an eight minute pace in six months. That's the all right, that's the micro goal?
Speaker 2:yeah, the big goal is a sub speed up for speed season. Yeah, speed season. Well, anything else before we wrap up? I got nothing well, you look good, you look better. Well, we're brothers damn.